Industry News

Lying plumber sentenced after issuing fraudulent gas safety records

A plumber has been sentenced for putting lives at risk after lying to landlords, claiming he was Gas Safe registered, and issuing fraudulent gas safety records.

Keith Downie supplied gas safety records to the landlords of at least three properties in the Darlington area between February and May 2012. The documents stated that the safety checks had been carried out, but they proved to be fraudulent.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation after a member of the public alerted them to his activities, and Mr Downie was prosecuted at Darlington Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that all landlords have a legal duty to ensure safety checks are carried out on gas appliances within their properties to protect their tenants, and that the work must be done by a Gas Safe engineer.

Mr Downie had told the landlords he was Gas Safe registered, and in two instances he even claimed to be the engineer that had carried out the previous year’s checks. However, the court heard Mr Downie had never been Gas Safe registered and was not competent to carry out the work.

Keith Downie, 51, of The Firs, Darlington was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and pay £500 in costs after pleading guilty to six breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – three each of Section 3(2) and Section 33(1)(m).

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Jonathan Wills said:

“Mr Downie displayed a deliberate and reckless approach to the law by putting the tenants of these three properties at risk with a view to profiting financially.

“Having deceived the landlords into thinking he was Gas Safe registered, he then provided them with documents to show the appliances were safe, even though he was not competent to carry out such checks.

“This case should act as a reminder that HSE will prosecute those who flout the law in such a way, putting the lives of members of the public in danger.”